Police Departments Stocking Up On AR-15 Rifles

NBC 30 ^

[Stew Padasso]

Police Departments Stocking Up On AR-15 Rifles Firearm Instructors Say Weapon Is Best Choice

POSTED: 11:38 a.m. EST October 27, 2003

DANBURY, Conn. -- Saying that they need to be better prepared, several local police departments in Connecticut are turning to AR-15 assault rifles as their emergency weapons of choice.

Officers in Bethel and Ridgefield are already carrying the weapons, known as the civilian version of the military's M-16. Danbury is expecting 30 AR-15s to arrive within the next two months, The News-Times of Danbury reported.

With the atmosphere of world terrorism and school violence, it's important to have a tool available, said Ridgefield Capt. Michael Casey, one of the department's firearms instructors. Ridgefield bought two of the rifles this month. Casey said that his fellow officers are unlikely to grab an AR-15 for everyday police calls, but one never knows what the future holds.

"It only takes one incident to have a disaster, and you have to have a plan," said Casey, adding that the department hasn't yet had to use one of the weapons. "I hope we never will."

Danbury police are replacing shotguns that officers carry in their cruisers with AR-15s, which cost about $750 each. The department plans to buy 30 of them through a military surplus program. Danbury Capt. Arthur Sullo said that the new rifles will be used only for "an emergency deemed appropriate."

"As far as being prepared for homeland security because of our close proximity to New York City, it's better to be proactive," Sullo said. "In the event of another major catastrophe in New York City or New England, our officers will be better prepared and trained."

Officer Gary Dinho, Danbury's firearms instructor, said that the major advantage of the AR-15 is that it can hit a target at 500 yards compared with 20 yards for a shotgun. The .223-caliber bullets fired by an AR-15 also have greater accuracy at longer distances than shotgun shells and can penetrate body armor. Police officers nationwide have often said that many criminals and terrorists have more firepower than they do.

"Most departments are going to have AR-15s because of Sept. 11," Dinho said. "If you ran into a terrorist, you'd be outgunned. That's one of the reasons the military is passing them down to police departments."

In Danbury, the AR-15s will arrive as automatic rifles, meaning that rounds will fire as long as the trigger is being squeezed. But they will be converted to semiautomatic rifles, meaning that the trigger must be pulled each time an officer fires a shot. Bethel police firearms instructor Sgt. Michael Kaluta said the town's department made the transition to the semiautomatic rifle five years ago.

"We try to stay ahead of the learning curve," Kaluta said. "The truth of the matter is that the patrol guy on the street is the first line of defense, and you want to give him the best tools you can provide."

[Stew Padasso]

"The truth of the matter is that the patrol guy on the street is the first line of defense, and you want to give him the best tools you can provide."

Joe Citizen should be just as equipped and ready for the same reasons.

[sit-rep]

The cheaper of the lot...

Michigan State Police have H&K 98(?)'s(.223) in their trunks. Got to admit, the standard issue shot gun of yesteryear don't really cut it much any more...

[Mini-14]

Everyone knows that you don't need assault rifles for hunting. Are the cops planning to shoot up the schools?

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[RandallFlagg]

Police Departments Stocking Up On AR-15 Rifles

Hmmm. Something I'd like to do...

[GluteusMax]

In Danbury, the AR-15s will arrive as automatic rifles, meaning that rounds will fire as long as the trigger is being squeezed. But they will be converted to semiautomatic rifles, meaning that the trigger must be pulled each time an officer fires a shot.

When the media want to portray a gun as okay, a true "assault weapon" like these surplus M-16's, is called an AR-15 and calmly described as a tool.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Michigan State Police have H&K 98(?)'s(.223) in their trunks.

---

(HK 93, or HK 53 if select fire)

---

Got to admit, the standard issue shot gun of yesteryear don't really cut it much any more...

---

Shotguns do just fine for police work, supplemented by one or two hunting rifles for hostage-taker treatment. The military style rifles are for military objectives. Which is why I think that our federally-subsidizes, militarized "law enforcement" forces are the standing army our founders feared.

(And I'd like to see each cop required to develop proficiency at 500 yards in a variety of conditions before being provided access to an AR-15.)

[Blood of Tyrants]

Wait just a second! They are paying $750 EACH for SURPLUS (i.e., used) M-16's (that's what they are really describing) when the going price is probably $150?

For that price they could get NEW Bushmasters.

[ought-six]

"Joe Citizen should be just as equipped and ready for the same reasons."

Amen to that.

[leadpencil1]

This was posted in our home town newspaper as "Police Want AR-15s" and my first thought was no way are they getting their hands on mine!

[Orangedog]

As a general rule in an urban setting, if you can't drop your target with a 12 GA, you probably shouldn't be shooting at it in the first place. Of course there are always exceptions.

[RKV]

I was at my local range when the SBPD was breaking in 40 new Colt ARs. Those guys really did need some practice as my 11 year old shoots as good as they did with my Bushmaster. I hope they are better now after some range time. Seriously, I would prefer a .12 gauge in most circumstances for self-defense, but then I am not a policeman. If an officer really needed to shoot someone at long range then he ought to call in a shooter with a bolt gun like the military does, even today.

[RKV]

Don't most M-16s have a 3 round burst, not full auto "rock-and-roll?"

[conservativefromGa]

looks like police shotguns are going the way of the dodo

[etcetera]

Anyone who shoots high-power rifles will tell you that 500 yards is a really long distance. Unless these AR15's are scoped, there isn't much chance of hitting the intended target, unless the target is a barn. 8-)

[struwwelpeter]

Doesn't sound like an Colt M-16A2. In "full auto" they only do bursts of 3, then squeeze again. The first M-16s 30-odd years ago (from such prestigious arms manufacturers as 'GM Hydromatic Division' and 'Mattel') were full autos, but pretty picky about their ammo.

For that money couldn't they get some nice mini-14s instead?

[struwwelpeter]

Ach! Beat me to it ;-)

[Travis McGee]

B-b-but "assault rifles" are evil weapons of death!

[verity]

Which is why I think that our federally-subsidizes, militarized "law enforcement" forces are the standing army our founders feared.

Of course. :~)